Musings, Munchings, Mayhem

What made you pick your child’s name?

This is a post I’ve had on my list of things to write about for a while, and it popped up as a question in #TribalChat last week which brought it back to mind.

We hadn’t really set our hearts on a name before the boy arrived. For ages I really liked Ethan for a boy and Evie for a girl. Until Danni Minogue called her kid Ethan and I realised Evie was a top 10 girls name. Being called Sarah, officially THE most popular girls name of 1980 I didn’t want to burden my child with what I had to go through. I am never the only Sarah. Ever. There were five of us in my art GCSE class at school, it was ridiculous.

We still hadn’t decided on a name when he was born. I liked Euan, and Evan. We’d made a list, which I took into hospital, but in the confused and drugged up days there, I couldn’t find it, and my Mum was adamant we name him, so I went with one of the names on the list I could remember that I liked. Rian.

It’s the Irish version of Ryan. It means “Little King” which I liked – not because I have delusions of royalty! – but because my name (common as muck as it is) means ‘Princess’ in Hebrew. So there was a funny little connection there.

The better connection for me though, is that my oldest friends are named Ria and Anna, so it’s a combination of their names. Even though he’s a boy, he’s named after girls!

I only realised a little later however, that I have consigned him with a life time of name annoyance. Whenever he calls anywhere, gets asked his name, he’ll have to say “Rian. With an i” and people will say “What?”

Oops!

What made you pick your child’s name? was last modified: December 27th, 2016 by Sarah

5 comments

As another Sarah, I can relate! There were 3 other Sarahs in my class at primary school. I had to be referred to as Sarah [first initial of surname]. My daughter has a Scandinavian name due to her dad being Danish. It’s also uncommon enough in both Denmark and the UK. Her two middle names are in honour of her maternal grandmothers who played a big role in mine and OH’s upbringing. The middle names hold more meaning than her first.

I am French but I didn’t want a too frenchie name. I knew lots of people were expecting it. I have been offered a book with baby names and their meaning. Some of them were just horrible, but it’s a personal choice I suppose. Then, my partner suggested Stanley, which I found very cute and quite traditional. When the baby arrived, it was just perfect for him. His middle name, Alexander was one name from my last. In the end our son’s initials are SAS. It is a great way to celebrate his grandfather who was actually in the SAS.

Thank you! That’s such a lovely thing to say 🙂 I’m happy to help you with tips & advice if you want to do anything to yours (which I am going to come and have a look at now – I’m sure it’s fab already!) 🙂